What is a covalent bond?

A covalent bond forms when two non-metal atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to achieve stability. These shared electrons allow each atom to attain a full outer shell. Covalent bonding occurs in molecules like H₂O, CO₂, and CH₄. Bonds may be single (one pair), double (two pairs), or triple (three pairs). Covalent compounds have low melting and boiling points and usually do not conduct electricity. The bond’s strength depends on the overlap of orbitals and the number of shared electrons. Polarity arises if atoms have different electronegativities.